Personal statement questions

[skyblue2000]

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Two questions regarding the personal statement:

1) patient names: If I say "Jane" the first time I use the name, can I proceed just saying Jane from that point forward (without the quotes after the first time).

2) Abbreviations in personal statements: eg. DKA for diabetic ketoacidosis or SLE for systemic Lupus erythematous. I had them spelled out originally but my advisor changed it to DKA and SLE. Any feedback? I thought abbreviations wouldnt be ok?
Oh I also have HbA1c in there too...

 

[skyblue2000]

anyone??

 

[Doctor Bob]

Abbrevs are fine. We're dr's also.

In an unrelated vein...
Don't bump your thread after it's been up for only an hour or two.

 

[skyblue2000]

That's what I figured, just didn't know how formal these essays really had to be.
Is specifying a patient's name is quotes the first time and then continuing to use the name without quotes ok as well?

 

[Doctor Bob]

That's what I figured, just didn't know how formal these essays really had to be.
Is specifying a patient's name is quotes the first time and then continuing to use the name without quotes ok as well?

That's fine.
Look, we aren't english professors. We aren't poring over your essay with a Chicago Manual of Style on the desk next to us circling errors with a red pen. Just spell everything correctly, demonstrate mastery of 6th grade grammar, and that's good enough.

 

[22031 Alum]

Yes, you're fine not using quotes every time. I've also seen people stick a "(name changed)" after their first use of the pseudonym. It's not a big deal.

 

[skyblue2000]

Thank you so much for the feedback.